The Hon. Hector Appuhamy

¶ 01 Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity.

¶ 02 I move that under the Appropriation Bill, 2025, at today’s Committee Stage, the Recurrent and Capital Expenditure under Head No. 112 pertaining to the Ministry scheduled for debate on Saturday, 15.03.2025, be reduced by Rs. 10/- in respect of each Programme, in accordance with tradition.

¶ 03 Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to open on this important Head and thank the Opposition led by the Hon. Leader of the Opposition for the opportunity. The House is thinly attended today—perhaps because many Members are occupied counting deer and monkeys per the Government’s request.

¶ 04 Sri Lanka is an island with abundant resources—human capital, physical endowments, environment and climate. The question is whether we have recognized our strategic position and leveraged it for all our people. As a party, we advocate a non-aligned, multi-vector foreign policy—friendship with all, entangling alliances with none—while safeguarding our sovereignty.

¶ 05 I regret that under this vital Head, there is little mention of new revenue or expenditure beyond carrying forward prior programmes. We must focus on how we engage the world: through treaties, human rights commitments, international organizations and agreements. A planned “digital economy” requires strong external connectivity for trade and services.

¶ 06 Key imperatives: - Build and use friendships to advance economic ties. - Strengthen embassies as bridges where governments and leaders sometimes cannot directly engage. - Systematically identify external markets for our exports and services, coordinating Foreign Affairs with other ministries and missions. - Embed digital economy linkages in foreign relations.

¶ 07 We should tailor our diplomatic work by region—Europe, the US, Australia, Japan, Korea, the Middle East, etc.—because mission priorities differ.

¶ 08 On sustainable development, ageing is a top global issue: rising life expectancy, falling birth rates, including in Sri Lanka. We should develop programmes to host foreign retirees within our tourism and foreign employment framework, given global demand and our favorable reputation. Likewise, food security must be tackled with strategic production targets, not token planting campaigns, aligned with international support and best practices, and address child/female harassment and gender-based violence as cross-cutting social priorities.

¶ 09 Our diaspora is more than remittances. We have underutilized their creativity, experience and investment potential. Many non-Sri Lankans are also eager to help. We need structured engagement beyond elections and fundraising.

¶ 10 On Italy: Large Sri Lankan communities live across Rome, Messina, Catania, Naples, Milan, Verona, Genoa, Florence, Lucca, Venice, Padua, etc.—a nation-building force. We had an MoU to convert Sri Lankan driving licences after five years of residence; it lapsed around 2022 and has not been renewed. I engaged with former and new Ambassadors and our Ministry; the matter stalled. Without conversion, Sri Lankans can’t access jobs paying EUR 2,000–3,000/month and face severe daily hardship.

¶ 11 In Poland: Up to October 2023, Sri Lankan licences were converted; after that, Polish authorities have declined conversion citing no expiry date on our cards. As we digitize our licences, please urgently engage our Ambassadors and Polish authorities to align formats and restore conversion. Thousands are blocked from employment due to licence issues.

¶ 12 Remittances: Many workers still use informal channels or foreign apps due to lack of accessible banking pathways. As we digitize, we must also digitize remittance channels with proper incentives and user-friendly options.

¶ 13 Tourism: Identify why visitors come, what they prefer, and align offerings. Move beyond backpacker-only segments and develop higher-value products: health and Ayurveda tourism, specialized wildlife/elephant studies, etc. Our hotel training ecosystem is inadequate; overhaul training for both overseas and domestic skilled service workers.

¶ 14 Domestic worker training for the Middle East must be destination-specific—language, household norms, appliances, mobility, money management, phone use, cooking—so workers are prepared. Establish end-to-end coordination from GN Division to embassy to employer household, and institute proper post-placement monitoring.

¶ 15 Finally, some foreigners on tourist visas are engaging in industrial and export activities, undermining compliant local businesses and BOI frameworks. Please investigate and regulate appropriately.

¶ 16 Thank you.